What are the recommended email deliverability training classes?

Key findings

• Diverse offerings: Many platforms and individuals offer courses, ranging from free fundamental introductions to in-depth, paid certifications.
• Practical application: The most effective training often includes practical exercises, real-world case studies, and actionable steps to improve inbox placement.
• Fundamental understanding: Good training covers core concepts such as email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and sender reputation management. You can learn more about these in our guide to DMARC, SPF, and DKIM.
• Engagement focus: Modern deliverability training emphasizes the importance of subscriber engagement and list hygiene in avoiding spam folders.
• Continuous learning: Given the dynamic nature of email deliverability, ongoing education and staying updated on new changes (like those from Gmail and Yahoo) are crucial.

Key considerations

• Trainer expertise: Seek out courses led by recognized deliverability experts or those with practical experience, not just theoretical knowledge.
• Course depth: Assess whether the course covers basic fundamentals or delves into advanced topics like IP warming and managing blocklist issues. For a deeper dive, consider reviewing best resources and first steps for learning deliverability.
• Curriculum relevance: Ensure the curriculum aligns with your specific learning objectives, whether it's for general email marketing or dedicated deliverability roles.
• Reputation of provider: Prioritize courses from reputable academies or organizations known for their expertise in email marketing and deliverability, such as Klaviyo Academy.
• Certification value: Consider if a certification is provided and its value in enhancing your professional credentials.

Key opinions

• Desire for clarity: Marketers frequently express a desire for clear, concise explanations of deliverability concepts that are often perceived as highly technical.
• Practical takeaways: There is a strong preference for training that offers immediate, implementable strategies rather than just theoretical knowledge.
• Spam folder avoidance: A primary concern is understanding how to avoid the spam folder, making courses focused on this topic highly popular, as detailed in our guide on why your emails go to spam.
• Comprehensive understanding: Many marketers look for courses that cover the entire lifecycle of an email, from sending to inbox placement.
• Value for money: Marketers are willing to invest in training that provides clear ROI by improving campaign effectiveness and reducing wasted sends.

Key considerations

• Accessibility of content: Trainings should be structured to cater to marketers with varying levels of technical expertise, from beginners to advanced users.
• Engagement metrics: Courses should emphasize the link between engagement metrics and deliverability, and how to improve both.
• Reputation management: Training should cover strategies for building and maintaining a strong sender reputation, including managing blacklists (or blocklists) and avoiding spam traps.
• Platform integration: Some marketers prefer training that includes practical advice on applying deliverability best practices within their specific email marketing platforms. More on this is available in our article key areas to cover in deliverability training.
• Case study driven: Real-world examples of deliverability successes and failures are highly valued for illustrating concepts.

Key opinions

• Holistic view: Experts believe comprehensive training should cover the entire email ecosystem, including how ISPs process mail and filter spam.
• Technical foundations: Deep dives into authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial, as well as understanding how to diagnose and fix related issues, as outlined in our guide on why your emails fail.
• Reputation is key: Maintaining a positive sender reputation is consistently highlighted as the most critical factor for deliverability.
• Proactive monitoring: Tools and practices for monitoring deliverability performance, such as Google Postmaster Tools and blocklist monitoring, are essential components of expert-level training.
• Adaptability: The deliverability landscape constantly changes, so training should foster an understanding of how to adapt to new requirements and challenges.

Key considerations

• Structured framework: Experts often develop structured frameworks for deliverability training, ensuring a logical progression from basic to advanced topics.
• Real-world scenarios: Training should include practical troubleshooting and problem-solving for common deliverability issues.
• Beyond marketing: Expert-level courses delve into the infrastructure and technical configurations necessary for optimal deliverability, complementing guides like technical solutions from top performing senders.
• Industry best practices: Look for training that incorporates current industry best practices and insights from major mailbox providers. One excellent resource to consider is the Email Deliverability Fundamentals Course from Sender Score.
• Community engagement: Some experts offer access to communities or forums where learners can ask questions and discuss deliverability challenges.

Key findings

• Protocol adherence: Documentation emphasizes strict adherence to SMTP, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC specifications for successful email transmission and authentication.
• Security standards: Official guidelines consistently highlight the importance of implementing security measures to prevent email fraud and ensure legitimate sending.
• Feedback loops: Many providers offer feedback loops (FBLs) as a crucial mechanism for senders to receive complaints and manage their subscriber lists effectively.
• Reputation algorithms: Mailbox providers use complex algorithms to assess sender reputation, factoring in complaints, bounces, spam trap hits, and positive engagement. Our guide on Google Postmaster Tools Domain Reputation offers more insight.
• List management: Best practices for list hygiene, including regular cleaning and double opt-in processes, are universally recommended to maintain deliverability.

Key considerations

• Source of truth: Documentation from RFCs, postmaster sites (like Gmail Postmaster Tools), and industry consortiums are the authoritative sources for technical standards. You can learn more about this in our ultimate guide to Google Postmaster Tools V2.
• Technical detail: While essential, these documents can be highly technical and require a foundational understanding of networking and email protocols.
• Compliance updates: Regularly review updates from major mailbox providers regarding new sending requirements (e.g., Gmail and Yahoo's 2024 changes) to ensure compliance.
• Error interpretation: Documentation often provides detailed explanations of common email errors, which are vital for troubleshooting deliverability issues.
• Domain reputation metrics: Understanding the metrics presented in postmaster tools (like spam rate and domain reputation) directly impacts inbox placement, as highlighted by Blueshift's Email Deliverability Fundamentals course.